Lighting network with autonomous commissioning

Abstract

Networked intelligent lighting devices and other elements connected to the network of a lighting system are readily adaptable to desirable networking arrangements as well as logical functional groups, for example by each storing communication provisioning data and/or configuration data for logically associating system elements into one or more groupings or sub-networks. The exemplary systems and system elements may also enable such enhanced network arrangement via autonomous discovery and device commissioning.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 lighting devices, each respective lighting device comprising: 
 a light source; 
 a communication interface configured to enable communication via a network link; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the light source and to have access to the memory and to communicate via the communication interface, wherein the respective processor is configured to operate the respective device to implement functions including functions to: 
 exchange, automatically and via the respective communication interface, communications with one or more other lighting devices; 
 establish, autonomously and based at least in part on the automatically exchanged communications, a logical network arrangement between the respective lighting device and the one or more other lighting devices; and 
 cooperate, automatically and via the logical network arrangement, with the one or more other lighting devices to provide controlled lighting for a service area. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the function to automatically exchange communications with one or more other lighting devices implemented by the respective lighting device comprises functions to:
 send, via the respective communication interface, a signal identifying the respective lighting device; 
 receive, via the respective communication interface, an identification signal from each of the one or more other lighting devices, each identification signal including an identity of the respective other lighting device from which the respective identification signal is received; and 
 store each received identification signal in the respective memory. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor of the respective lighting device is configured to operate the respective lighting device to implement further functions, including functions to:
 send, via the respective communication interface, information identifying capabilities of the respective lighting device; 
 receive, via the respective communication interface, information identifying capabilities of at least one of the one or more other lighting devices, the received capabilities information including an indication of which other lighting device supports which capabilities; and 
 store, in association with each corresponding stored identification signal, the received capabilities information in the memory of the respective lighting device. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the function to send the signal identifying the respective lighting device implemented by the respective lighting device comprises a function to broadcast, via the communication interface, the signal identifying the respective lighting device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each respective processor is further configured to operate the respective lighting device to implement the included functions without requiring human intervention. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface element configured for lighting control, the user interface element comprising:
 a communication interface configured to enable communication via a network link; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to have access to the memory and to communicate via the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to operate the user interface element to implement functions including functions to: 
 exchange, automatically and via the communication interface, communications with one or more of the lighting devices; 
 establish, autonomously and based at least in part on the automatically exchanged communications, a logical network arrangement between the user interface element and the one or more lighting devices; and 
 enable, automatically and via the logical network arrangement, control of the one or more lighting devices to provide controlled lighting for the service area. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the function to automatically exchange communications with one or more of the lighting devices implemented by the user interface element comprises functions to:
 send, via the communication interface, a signal identifying the user interface element; 
 receive, via the communication interface, an identification signal from each of the one or more of the lighting devices, each identification signal including an identity of the respective lighting device from which the respective identification signal is received; and 
 store each received identification signal in the memory. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a detector configured as a sensor, the detector comprising:
 a communication interface configured to enable communication via a network link; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to have access to the memory and to communicate via the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to operate the detector to implement functions including functions to: 
 exchange, automatically and via the communication interface, communications with one or more of the lighting devices; 
 establish, autonomously and based at least in part on the automatically exchanged communications, a logical network arrangement between the user interface element and the one or more lighting devices; and 
 enable, automatically and via the logical network arrangement, cooperation with the one or more lighting devices to provide controlled lighting for the service area. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the function to automatically exchange communications with one or more of the lighting devices implemented by the detector comprises functions to:
 send, via the communication interface, a signal identifying the detector; 
 receive, via the communication interface, an identification signal from each of the one or more of the lighting devices, each identification signal including an identity of the respective lighting device from which the respective identification signal is received; and 
 store each received identification signal in the memory. 
 
     
     
       10. A lighting device comprising:
 a light source; 
 a communication interface configured to enable communication via a network link; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the light source and the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to operate the lighting device to implement functions including functions to: 
 send, via the communication interface, a signal identifying the lighting device; 
 receive, via the communication interface, an identification signal from another lighting device, the identification signal including an identity of the other lighting device; 
 store the received identification signal in the memory; 
 establish, autonomously and based at least in part on the received identification signal, a logical network arrangement between the lighting device and the other lighting device; and 
 cooperate, automatically and via the logical network arrangement, with the other lighting device to provide controlled lighting for a service area. 
 
     
     
       11. The lighting device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate the lighting device to implement the included functions without requiring human intervention. 
     
     
       12. A lighting controller comprising:
 a user input device; 
 a communication interface configured to enable communication via a network link; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the user input device and the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to operate the controller to implement functions including functions to: 
 send, via the communication interface, a signal identifying the lighting controller; 
 receive, via the communication interface, an identification signal from a lighting device, the identification signal including an identity of the lighting device; 
 store the received identification signal in the memory; 
 establish, autonomously and based at least in part on the received identification signal, a logical network arrangement between the lighting controller and the lighting device; and 
 enable, automatically and via the logical network arrangement, control of the lighting device to provide controlled lighting for a service area. 
 
     
     
       13. The lighting controller of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate the lighting controller to implement the included functions without requiring human intervention. 
     
     
       14. A sensor device comprising:
 a detector; 
 a detector interface circuit coupled to the detector; 
 a communication interface configured to enable communication via a network link; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor coupled to the detector interface circuit and the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to operate the sensor device to implement functions including functions to: 
 send, via the communication interface, a signal identifying the sensor device; 
 receive, via the communication interface, an identification signal from a lighting device, the identification signal including an identity of the lighting device; 
 store the received identification signal in the memory; 
 establish, autonomously and based at least in part on the received identification signal, a logical network arrangement between the sensor device and the lighting device; and 
 cooperate, automatically and via the logical network arrangement, with the lighting device to provide controlled lighting for a service area. 
 
     
     
       15. The sensor device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate the sensor device to implement the included functions without requiring human intervention. 
     
     
       16. A system, comprising:
 a first logical network arrangement formed automatically and autonomously by a first plurality of lighting devices via a first data communication network, the first plurality of lighting devices configured to cooperatively provide controlled lighting for a first service area; 
 a second logical network arrangement formed automatically and autonomously by a second plurality of lighting devices via a second data communication network, the second plurality of lighting devices configured to cooperatively provide controlled lighting for a second service area; and 
 an additional lighting device, wherein: 
 each lighting device includes a light source, a processor, a memory and a communication interface; and 
 the processor of the additional lighting device is configured to operate the additional lighting device to implement functions, including functions to: 
 exchange, automatically and via the communication interface of the additional lighting device, communications with at least one other lighting device of the first and second pluralities of lighting devices; 
 select, autonomously and based at least in part on the exchanged communications, at least one of the first and second logical network arrangements; 
 join, autonomously and in cooperation with lighting devices of the at least one selected logical network arrangement, the at least one selected logical network arrangement; and 
 cooperate, automatically and via the at least one selected logical network arrangement, with lighting devices of the at least one selected logical network arrangement to provide controlled lighting. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the function to automatically exchange communications implemented by the additional lighting device comprises functions to:
 send, via the communication interface of the additional lighting device, a signal identifying the additional lighting device; 
 receive, via the communication interface of the additional lighting device, an identification signal from the at least one other lighting device, the received identification signal including an identity of the at least one other lighting device; and 
 store the received identification signal in the memory of the additional lighting device. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor of the additional lighting device is configured to operate the additional lighting device to implement further functions, including functions to:
 send, via the communication interface of the additional lighting device, information identifying capabilities of the additional lighting device; 
 receive, via the communication interface of the additional lighting device, information identifying capabilities of the at least one other lighting device, the received capabilities information including an indication of which capabilities are supported by the at least one other lighting device; and 
 store, in association with the corresponding stored identification signal, the received capabilities information of the at least one other lighting device in the memory of the additional lighting device. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first and second plurality of lighting devices include at least one common lighting device in common with both the first and second plurality of lighting devices; and 
 at least a portion of the first service area and at least a portion of the second service area form a common service area. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first plurality of lighting devices form the first logical network arrangement without requiring human intervention; 
 the second plurality of lighting devices form the second logical network arrangement without requiring human intervention; and 
 the processor of the additional lighting device is further configured to operate the additional lighting device to implement the included functions without requiring human intervention.